Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday lamented Nigeria’s lopsided federal structure, noting that it had been the bane of national development and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians. Ambode, however, noted that any structural reforms might face the tendency of being distorted to serve the purpose of those who favour concentration of power, thereby canvassing equitable fiscal federalism. These positions were contained in the text of a convocation lecture he delivered at the University of Lagos yesterday, re-emphasising the need for Nigeria “to implement the federal system as originally intended.” Read more

‘Health, education, LASG’s top priority’ (Punch)

The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has restated his administration’s commitment to invest massively in the health and education sectors of the state. He said he would ensure that the plans for the two sectors were implemented in line with his administration’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. Ambode spoke at the 5th Summit of the Association of the Lagos State Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, a statement said on Tuesday. The governor, who was represented at the event by the Chief of Staff, Samuel Ojo, described the theme of the summit entitled, ‘Lagos State Vision on Education and Health in Relations to the Sustainable Goals,’ as apt. Read more

Giving Olusosun dumpsite a new lease of life (NewTelegraph)

The 47-hectres Olusosun dumpsite in Lagos is undergoing capping to stop emission of poisonous smoke and fire outbreak at the facility, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. NAN correspondent, who visited the dumpsite on Monday reports that work is in full gear as earthmoving equipment are seen overlaying with sand while loaders are pouring laterite on the surface. Speaking on the project, Dr Iyabo Phillips, Director of Environmental Services, Lagos State Ministry of Environment, said that the capping would last for a month. Read more

LASG moves to fight Cataract, Blindness (Independent)

It was a four-day of momentous event for those who had one eye defect or another in the ancient city of Badagry, Lagos. Many of them had been living in pains for years without hope of any help. Some had cataract and others struggled with partial blindness. However, help came to them recently when Lagos State Government sponsored a free eye surgery outreach programme. Many of the excited beneficiaries wished the programme would be a weekly affair. One of them, Mr. Sanni Sonayon Rilwan while thanking the State government for coming to their aid and offering them succour stated that the gesture is a reminder that people in hard-to reach-areas are not left out in development programmes. Read more

Ambode roots for power devolution (NewTelegraph)

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has joined voices in the quest for power devolution in Nigeria. He said that the best way to address the socio-economic and infrastructural challenges facing the country could be addressed by concentrating more powers in the states and local governments. Ambode, who noted that Nigeria as presently configured does not practice true federalism, said too much power was concentrated at the centre. The governor spoke at the University of Lagos while delivering the institution’s 49th convocation lecture. The lecture, which was themed; “Inclusion: A Path to a new Nation,” suggested that Lagos style of inclusive nature and governance should be adopted by the Federal Government. Read more

Lagos laments N10.2bn drop in revenue (NewTelegraph)

The Lagos State Government yesterday said it has recorded about N10 .2 billion drop from its annual revenue generated from land transactions in 2017, just as it vowed to demolish structure erected on land under its acquisition. …vows to demolish structures on govt’s lands. The Lagos State Government yesterday said it has recorded about N10 .2 billion drop from its annual revenue generated from land transactions in 2017, just as it vowed to demolish structure erected on land under its acquisition. New Telegraph gathered that the state’s Lands Bureau generated only N10.5billion from land transactions last year, representing over 50 per cent short of the N20.7billion it generated in 2016. Read more

UNILAG needs N48bn yearly – Babalakin (Punch)

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), has put the annual financial need of the institution at N48bn. According to Babalakin, that is the sum it would take to give quality education to the 40,000 students of the university. He, however, lamented that the university received an annual Federal Government’s grant of between N10bn and N11bn, leaving a shortfall of about N37bn. Babalakin said this during the investiture of the 12th Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, on Tuesday. The pro-chancellor made a case for better funding of universities, stressing that for academic activities to thrive, there must be more investment and commitment to education by key stakeholders. Read more

The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Rasheed will on May 22, deliver the 22nd convocation lecture of the Lagos State University (LASU) titled, ‘Role of Tertiary Education in Promoting Social Cohesion and Peace: Opportunities and Challenges for Nigeria’, just as the institution will graduate a total of 26,637 students comprising diploma, first and higher degrees graduands, out of which 26 finished in the first class category. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is expected to chair the occasion. A breakdown of the figure of the graduating students drawn from the Faculties of Arts, Education, Engineering, Law, Management Sciences, College of Medicine, School of Communication; and Transport, among others shows that a total of 1,084 finished in the second class upper division; 17,323 in the second class lower division, while 2,940 and 108 finished in the third class and pass degrees respectively. Read more

Oshodi Interchange: Changing the transport narrative (NewTelegraph)

With her baby strapped to her back, Mrs Tolulope Adebayo moved from one place to the other in search of where she could get a bus to her destination. She was completely dazed by the sight of a totally different and more disorganized Oshodi. As she made efforts to ask other passersby where commercial vehicles plying Ikotun –Isolo road could be found, she became more confused because she was directed towards Agege-Iyana Ipaja axis, where she spent almost 30 minutes on the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) queue before a good Samaritan among the passengers on the queue corrected and advised her to move to-wards former Owonifari Market end of Oshodi. While heading towards the axis using the pedestrian bridge, a group of three shabbily dressed under age porters approached her. Read more

Contractor begins laying of tracks on Lagos-Ibadan rail (Punch)

The Federal Government on Tuesday said the contractor handling the construction of new Lagos-Ibadan rail, China Civil Engineering Construction Company, had commenced the laying of tracks on the rail line. The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who spoke along with his counterpart at the Ministry of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, at Papalanto, Ogun State, after the inspection of the rail project, said already 1.7km of the track had been laid. He allayed the fears that the rains could delay the delivery of the project by December this year, insisting that there was no going back on the delivery date and stressed that they had got the assurances from the contractor and others whose organisations would be affected by the project. Read more

Court gives nod to Lagos consumption tax law (Nation)

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday lifted its interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Government from enforcing the provisions of Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Tax Law, 2015. Justice Rilwan Aikawa, in a ruling on a motion filed by the Registered Trustees of Hotel Owners and Managers Association of Lagos, had restrained the State Government from further enforcing the law pending the determination of the matter. Joined as defendants are the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The plaintiff is urging the court to strike out the Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Law, Cap H8, Laws of Lagos State 2015. Read more

With Bubblesville, Sanusi expands Lagos theatre space (Punch)

Founder of Bubbles FM, Lookman Sanusi, speaks with AKEEM LASISI on his new entertainment centre since Lookman Sanusi became visible on the creative scene some 25 years ago, his perspective on professionalism and entrepreneurship has been consistent. While he served on the executive of the Association of Nigerian Authors for some time, his first point of identity is his Bubbles Theatre outfit, a children’s drama group that has performed many plays across schools in Lagos. Later, he moved to the United Kingdom where he, alongside other production adventures, established Bubbles FM, an online radio that aided his urge to remain connected to Nigeria. Now, Sanusi is set to unveil his most ambitious project, which is Bubblesville, a multi-theme tourism and arts centre located on Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos. According to Sanusi, Bubblesville is like a small town where all arts activities and hospitality merge to provide inspiring service to the industry. Read more

Lagos Museum project gets $600,000 grant (Nation)

Lagos State Government has secured the support and partnership of museum experts at the British Council, Smithsonian Institute and France towards the execution of its proposed Lagos Museum project initiated by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The project, which received a boost with the approval of a grant of $600,000 from the Ford Foundation last year, is expected to kick off by July, when the groundbreaking will be done by Governor Ambode. Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Steve Ayorinde, who spoke at this year’s ministerial press briefing on Monday, said that Ford Foundation has indicated readiness to join the state on a global road show to generate additional funding for the museum. “The grant is confident booster for the state in the quest to create iconic cultural space, facilities and expand the vista of opportunities in tourism and cultural promotion,” he added. Read more

3 artists for Lagos-Berlin residencies (Nation)

Three artists have been selected for this year’s Lagos-Berlin residencies. They are Jumoke Adeyanju (Germany), Natalia Orendain del Castillo and Ojudun Taiwo Jacob (Nigeria). The residency for artists and curators is being held by the Goethe-Institut Nigeria, in partnership with the Center for Art and Urbanistics (ZK/U) in Berlin, the cultural office of local government Berlin Mitte, SAVVY ContemporaryArt Space, Berlin and the Arthouse Foundation in Lagos. Adeyanju, an all-round artist, dancer and poet, and Castillo, a Mexican-born visual artist and scenographer, will travel to Lagos in autumn. About the same time, Jacob will start a three- month residency in Berlin. Read more

US launches $5m Global Venture Challenge for Lagos Startups (ThisDay)

Connecticut Innovation, a US organisation that provides strategic investment for early-stage technology companies, has announced Lagos as its next location for its VentureClash global venture challenge. In a statement, the organisation said it chose Lagos as an ideal location to expand the footprint of its VentureClash global venture challenge because it identified Nigeria as a promising hub of innovative, high-growth-potential businesses. VentureClash is Connecticut Innovation’s worldwide competition for companies that are actively advancing disruptive solutions in Digital Health, Financial Technology (FinTech) the Internet of Things (IoT) and Insurance Technology (InsurTech). Read more

Navy, policemen clash in Lagos over tankers’ movement (Vanguard)

There was pandemonium, yesterday, afternoon at Ijora-Badia area of Lagos as two police officers and a Nigerian Navy personnel engaged in a shoot-out over regulation of tankers. The two policemen, identified as Sergeant Tunde and Mogbojuri attached to Badia Police Station, were said to have been beaten to stupor in the brawl, which took place at the Ijora axis of Apapa-Wharf Road. While the beating of Mogbojuri was minor, that of his colleague was severe as his uniform was reportedly torn by the Naval personnel. Operators of tricycles, popularly known as Keke Marwa and drivers of other commercial vehicles ran for safety to avoid being hit by stray bullets, just as passersby and motorists plying the road to Apapa and Lagos Island, also avoided the area. No casualty was recorded. Read more

‘Uninvited guest made away with host’s money at wedding’ (Punch)

The Lagos State Police Command is on the trail of a suspected thief, who allegedly disguised as an invited guest to steal at a wedding in the state. The incident happened on Saturday at Event Gallery, along Igando Road, Ojo area of the state, where the wedding held. Clad in a white dress worn by the groom’s friends and relatives, the fleeing suspect was captured on camera as he picked wads of cash dished out to the groom, Afeez Adekoya, who was immersed in dancing. Punch Metro gathered that the church service was on when he disappeared with a large sum of cash spent for Adekoya as well as the groom’s gold wristwatch. Read more

The Lagos State Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) has approved the trial of Peter Nielsen, a Danish who allegedly killed his wife, Zainab, and his three-year-old daughter, Petra. Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Kikelomo Ayeye, of Yaba Chief Magistrate Court, made this known yesterday while reading in open court the advice issued by the DPP on the alleged crime of the Denmark citizen. Chief Magistrate Ayeye also granted further remand of the defendant for another 30 days to enable the police and the Lagos State Government file murder charges against him before a High Court in the state. Read more

Boy, 12, drowns in Lagos river (Vanguard)

A 12 year-old boy, Friday Ezekiel, alleged to have been lured by his mates to a river in Majidun area of Lagos, has drowned. The deceased, a Junior Secondary School 1 student of Ayobirin Secondary School, as gathered, left his widowed mother’s home, Monday evening in company of four of his friends. There were different accounts on how he drowned in the river. A version of the account had it that he had an altercation with one of his friends, who allegedly pushed him into the river in the process. Read more

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